§ SIR THOMAS ESMONDE (Wexford, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if the Veterinary Branch of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland has a laboratory and an experimental farm, as has the similar branch of the English Department of Agriculture, for the purposes of Identifying disease and of research work, and, if not, if he will consider the desirability of furnishing the Irish Department with similar facilities as the English in this respect; if the Treasury has received a memorial from the staff of the Irish Veterinary Department asking to be placed on an equal footing regarding pay with their English confreres; and what was the reply to this request.
MR. BRYCEThe Answer to the first part of this Question is in the negative. The provision of a laboratory for the diagnosis of disease is engaging attention. There is no present intention of establishing an experimental farm in connection with the Department's Veterinary Branch. A memorial in the sense mentioned has been addressed to the Vice-President of the Department by.a number of Veterinary Inspectors 1058 employed in the Veterinary Branch. The Treasury have not as yet been communicated with in the matter, which is under the consideration of the Department.